The purposes of this study were to investigate use statue and satisfaction of DATC(Daegu Assistive Technology Center) and suggest effective and developmental service delivery. DATC is participating in a Assistive technology case management pilot proj...
The purposes of this study were to investigate use statue and satisfaction of DATC(Daegu Assistive Technology Center) and suggest effective and developmental service delivery. DATC is participating in a Assistive technology case management pilot project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare since 2010. 247 people with disabilities who were provided AT(Assistive Technology) from DATC from September 2010 to October 2011 had participated in survey and 214 of available data were analyzed. The results of this study were summarized as follows.
First, 93.4% of respondents experienced inconvenience for their ADL(Activities of Daily Living) without AT services but 85.9% of respondents answered that their problems of inconvenience were solved after they had been provided professional AT from DATC. The result shows that AT can resolve inconvenience for user's daily living.
Second, the satisfaction of service delivery program and the quality of the professional services showed relatively high but the satisfaction from repairs, maintenance and follow-up services did not. The experts seems to place emphasis on simple providing of AT service because of limited number of experts.
Third, the respondents were generally satisfied with AT devices which they had been given, but easiness and effectiveness of AT devices were not satisfactory.
Fourth, the customizing, modification and rental service were satisfactory but the public assistance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare was most discontented program.
Fifth, sensory aids were most unsatisfactory part of AT and the others were generally satisfactory.
On the basis of the results of this study, some suggestions for enrichment of AT were made and it is as in the following.
First, using funds from the government, increasing the number of experts is certainly needed. They should provide professional repair, maintenance and follow-up services for the efficient using of AT devices.
Second, The government should run an organization or a department which can manage quality certification, registration and management to improve satisfaction of AT devices, and quality improvements of AT device will be necessary.
Third, the budget for customizing , modification and rental service need to be expanded. The satisfaction of customized, modified and rental AT were represented highly but these AT were not offered to everyone because of low-budget and the budget issue should be solved. The rental service was very satisfactory because users can confirm quality, easiness, effectiveness and suitability of AT before purchase or grant. DATC need to secure all kinds of AT devices and newly invented AT devices and offer a wide choice of AT device to users to increase users satisfaction of rental service.
Fourth, The expansion of the number of the supportable AT device and fundings will be required to deliver proper AT services and maximize the efficacy of AT services. The satisfaction of assistance program from the Ministry of Health and Welfare were most dissatisfied program. The reason was that the Ministry of Health and Welfare provides just 12 kinds of AT devices and the fundings limits causes providing of low quality of AT devices.
The results of this study are expected to be used as essential data for advance of not only DATC but also other AT service centers in South Korea.